Health
Some Thoughts For Christmas... By ALICE O’BRIEN
Alice O’Brien Counselling, Newmarket It began to look a lot like Christmas a few weeks ago. By now, you most likely have the turkey defrosting, Bounty is the only sweets left in the box of Heroes and you have heard Chris Rea driving home for Christmas a million times. As I’ve shared my thoughts on mental health throughout the year, I decided to combine mental health and Christmas, so here is a few to finish the year with: · If you are under the same roof as last year, if you are surrounded by the same people doing the same traditions, then you are one of the lucky ones. Life has been hard for
some this year, losing their homes, or grieving loved ones. So, look around you and enjoy the scene. · If your children woke up in a warm bed this morning and went to school wearing their shiny Christmas jumpers, with fully belly’s and health- then you have won the lotto in life. · Sometimes we can grieve experiences this time of yearmaybe your house full of teens no longer want to listen out for Santaits ok to miss the days that were. You can make new traditions, have new festive adventures but hold on to your memories also, they will bring you warmth. · If you become over-whelmed by all the fun, all the visitors, all the noise, remember, the Island Wood never closes, it is there, ready for you to take time-out surrounded
by the sounds of nature when you need it. · Lastly, you deserve a peaceful Christmas no matter what has happened all year. So, if that means refusing some invites or avoiding some people- you have to look after your own mental health, especially over Christmas. Of course, as this is the last issue of 2023, I would like to thank everyone who has read my ramblings and approached me to discuss them. I also want to thank all at the IRD, most of all, Tadhg, Caleb and Louise for looking after me so well. So, have a Happy and Healthy Christmas- enjoy all the experiences, the laughter and the fun. Embrace it all because every moment precious.
Merry “Stress”mas
By MAIREAD O’KEEFFE New Leaf Health Store
Christmas can cause many people stress. Don’t worry about creating the ‘perfect’ Christmas. Simple is often best, and enjoying quality time with loved ones or being able to relax can mean much more than an expensive complicated celebration. Nobody is perfect, and nobody will ever be perfect. We must try to accept ourselves for who we are and surround ourselves with people that appreciate and love us, flaws and all. There are a few products that can help you find your less stressed self that I can recommend. Try a new relaxing herbal tea
28
blend or indulge in some matcha tea. Koyu Matcha Tea will energise you as well as de-stressing you, it’s a great alternative to normal tea or coffee. Passiflora Complex spray is great to keep in your handbag to use at stressful times. Many people find Passiflora helpful for anxiety and insomnia. The spray can be used as and when you need it up to 4 times in a day. If you want to try a daily supplement to manage your stress then Natures Plus Stress Support is a good choice. It is a comprehensive blend of B Vitamins, magnesium and herbal ingredients which are associated with stress reduction like Ashwaghanda, Lemon Balm, L-Theanine, Ginseng and
Rhodiola. In the last issue I talked about the Dr Clare Apothacary range that we have begun stocking. Already the Relax blend is already getting praised by those who have tried it. It is a food blend of Ashwaganda, Lavender, Chamomile, Hawthorn flowers, Holy basil, Rhodiola, Bitter orange peel, Bacoba, Verbena and Damiana. If you feel tired and drained and need an extra burst of energy as well as relief for stress then I highly recommend Zest Active. It is Irish made and contains 25 active ingredients carefully selected to support energy and your immune system and it is great to help you get through busy times.
DiscoverDuhallow@irdduhallow.com
Issue 104 December 22nd, 2023
